Free State football lovers will be treated to the best soccer showdown ever in South African Football calendar, when the Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs lock horns with arch-rivals Orlando Pirates at the Vodacom Park Stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday, 01 February 2004.

The long awaited Doctor Khumalo Challenge is definitely on, and highlights the culmination of generous moves by his club, Kaizer Chiefs for his service to the club. The Doc Khumalo benefit initiative included a concert in Durban, a 5-a-side tournament and a banquet, both of which were held in Gauteng.

Khumalo is over the moon that the game will be between Chiefs and Pirates: “It is one of the biggest derbies in world football and always brings the best out of both teams, the people of Bloemfontein are in for a real treat and a great day,” said Doc, who has represented Chiefs in over 380 games in a glittering career.

Club Chairman Kaizer Motaung said: “Doctor is among the top players the club has ever produced, particularly from our development ranks. He actually took over from the greats like Teenage Dladla, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Shaka Ngcobo, and many others to form what will soon be known as the Kaizer Chiefs Hall of Fame.

"He has contributed immensely towards the growth of this club, on field and off the field, as you know his style of play and his life style epitomised exactly what our mission and slogan are. We are pleased therefore to honor him in this fashion and an opportunity to play Pirates in a game of this nature is the best thing ever to happen to him. I wish him all the best for his life and his future with us,” said Motaung who had the pleasure of working alongside Doc’s father, the late Elkim “Pro” Khumalo during the early years of the glorious Amakhosi.

Speaking on behalf of Orlando Pirates, team manager Phil Setshedi said: “First we congratulate Doc for his achievements in soccer. I personally worked with him in the most successful Bafana Bafana squad of ‘96 and he contributed greatly in seeing South Africa qualify for the first time for a World Cup appearance.

"His accomplishments should be celebrated by all South Africans and that is why a Soweto derby is the only befitting game to honour a great player of his stature. As we play Cosmos on Saturday night some of the players will make their way to Bloemfontein on Saturday and the rest will follow together with the technical staff on Sunday morning, as you know we need everybody for a game against Chiefs. There are no friendlies between the two giants,” said Setshedi.

The Chiefs vs Pirates match will begin at 4pm and gates will open at 10am. A curtain raiser featuring Bloemfontein Celtic and Welkom Stars has been organized. The organisers have appealed to the supporters to come early, as there will be plenty entertainment including music by the Sony artists such as Chippa, Mzambiya, Malaika, and Kabelo.

As part of ploughing back top the community that made him, Doc has pledged to donate R20 000 towards the “Be A Friend Foundation” in Dube, a home that houses abused children and victims of abuse. When Khumalo visited the house in 2002 he was particularly touched by the selflessness of those who manage the foundation and has always been looking forward to donate something.

Tickets will go for R20 adults and R10 juveniles and will be sold as from Monday, 27 January 2004 at the following outlets:

· Pep Stores in Harvey and St. Andrews streets in Bloemfontein.
· Pep Stores in Thaba Nchu, Qwa Qwa, Bochabelo and Welkom
· Kenworth Spar
· Computicket natina wide
· Vodacom park stadium

For further information pls contact:

MSC - Justin Sher +27 82 896 8037

Kaizer Chiefs - Putco Mafani +27 82 991 0977